I've cleaned.....I've organized.....I've purged my stamp space! (See this post for more info.) Now you can reap the benefits!! Here's a list of all the things I must part with.....please help me find a good home for each of the following items:

All Sets (and some accessories) are drastically reduced,

deeply discounted, and priced to sell!

Price is per item, unless otherwise noted. Shipping is extra, and will be mailed Flat Rate whenever possible. Payment either by PayPal or Money Order. US funds and shipment only. Please contact me at StampLady4775@yahoo.com. Once payment has been received, shipment will be made and I will notify you that your items have gone postal….typically within 2-3 business days of receiving payment.

Hint: Not sure what the set looks like? Not sure what to do with it? Be sure to check out www.SplitCoastStampers.com gallery for loads of ideas!! Most sets can also be viewed on my Slide in the right column.

Monday, January 12, 2009

This one was such fun! When I first saw the layout, MaryJo, had actually featured "pendant" shapes......which made me take a step back. Hmmm....what to do? Pendants aren't really my thing, although I'm sure there will be some fabulous ideas with this layout. However, chose to use my Wide Oval Punch instead!

So, I pulled out my scrap pile of background papers again (I'm on a roll, I guess you could say!), and matched up 2 for the background in Baja Breeze. Definitely, that is my FAVORITE of this year's In Colors! I'm loving this color paired with Chocolate Chip! And I haven't used my Pocket Silhouettes in awhile....guess I had been side tracked by the holidays. As you can see, I kept everything fairly simple without a lot of extra layers.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Well, I've been truly negligent in posting for this group....my sincerest apologies! I've been having trouble keeping up and am trying to do my best. Not sure if I'll be able to post each week, but I do have something to share this time around!

Some of you may remember the set, Sassy Susie, from one of last year's mini catalogs. Even though she did not make the main catalog, she is still on my self.....I just had to keep her!! You see, she's just perfect for birthday cards for those girlfriends who are of "a certain age!!" So, here she is. There's lots on this card that is retired, but still from SU. AND, here's another example of using DSP for backgrounds!!

"Susie" has been colored in with my Copics (they are just so much fun to use!!), and her necklace and earrings have been dotted with my glitter pen (also non-SU). However, all of the other "ingredients" on this creation are SU. BTW, the inside of the card says, "or is it the candles on your cake?" She just cracks me up!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

This week the challenge is to use background paper....or some of us call it Designer Series Paper (that's a SU term!!). I LOVE using background paper in my cardmaking! It can bring a richness to a project that cannot be achieved any other way....the colors are rich and crisp.....not to mention that if you wish to send the card, it adds almost NO weight!!

Ok, so I was actually done early this week. I completed this first card on Tuesday.....I was determined to be on time!!! So, it sat on my desk since then and sometimes I liked it, and at other times, I did not. Right now, I'm not sure.....I'm thinking that it's ok, but a little "over the top." Remember, I usually like plainer, simpler designs. But still, I thought I'd share.

Well, then I decided to begin again. I came across this background paper by DCWV that has been in my collection for more than a year. The colors in this pattern seem to match our colors almost exactly....and I really like this pattern. This card is much more pleasing to me, but kind of ordinary.....you know, nothing especially different about it! Although I did use paper piecing for the little blue bird and some double layered Prima Flowers with a little glass-type brad inside. (Company source not known for these items!) It's cute....it's ok....and it's certainly easy to reproduce. But, I wanted something even better to share!!

That brings me to this third and final sample. Not long ago, I saw some "quilted" cards using the Top Note die....and you KNOW how much I like using that!! This one was fun, not really difficult, although a tad time consuming. But, it's a bit different, and really showcases the Patterns Pack DSP, Level 1. Each of the papers in this pack are double sided, and they really all kind of coordinate. So, I just cut a bunch of 1" squares and glued them to Whisper White CS, then placed them in the Big Shot and cut out the Big Note. Afterwards, I used a White Gel Pen to create the zig-zag stitch lines. Cool idea, isn't it?!! Then this was turned into a "tent card"....so the black background is just that...a back drop and not a part of the card! Twill was stamped onto a folded piece of Whisper White and the completed Top Note was adhered, but stands up over the top of the stamped base. Does this make sense? Add in the ribbon and the greeting with the cute little addition of the Designer Brad and More Mustard Mini Brad....and Voila!! The card was complete!

So that's my saga for this week's Challenge! LOL It's been a process, as many of these challenges can be....but when all done, I ended up with 3 samples for you! So, maybe you're not too unhappy with me that I'm late? Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you'll take a bit of time to visit the other bloggers. Have a great day! (It's snowing here....maybe I'll find some time to stamp some more!!)

Edited to add: Card #3 does double duty! Not only does it fit the DSP Challenge, but also SBS#24, Friendship Cards. I've been very lax in staying up to date with their challenges! But this one works for last week's requirement.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Well....you KNOW I'm behind! There is probably no way I can go back and make up all the Challenges that I've missed, but I just may try....we'll see!! Today's submission is from last week's Blog Challenge. It is a color challenge using Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, any red...I used Riding Hood Red....and a basic, like Vanilla or Whisper White. These colors actually look GREAT together, if I may say so! Not sure I would have ever thought to put them together, but I really like this combination....and you know I don't always say that for the combo challenges!! LOL!

I pulled out the Ronald McDonald House set, So Many Scallops, and decided to use that as the featured focal point. I had seen this idea with the mini brads in the lollipop flowers on my friend, Gina's blog, and thought it was an awesome idea! So, I borrowed the idea (Thanks, Gina!)....but the card is very different.

As you can see, this was stamped in Baja Breeze onto Whisper White and punched out with the fabulous Square Scallop Punch. The brads were added (Ruby Red Mini Brads match very well!), and layered onto a square of Chocolate Chip. The Riding Hood Red was stamped in the same color ink with Twill. Always was used for the center of the Build-A-Brad, and it works so well here!

Thanks, as always, for stopping by and making your visit a part of your day!

Monday, January 5, 2009

OMG! It feeks so good to be back stamping again.....you know, it just kind of feeds my soul! I haven't posted a Challenge or idea to share in so, so long! Yes, I said I'm "rusty," and I really am, but this came together fairly quickly. Guess it's because the layout was already out there for us to use!

Crazy for Cupcakes is what was used for the focal point. Fun, isn't it?!! Cupcakes seem to be everywhere, so they were just perfect for this layout!! Colored in with my Copic Sketch Markers and some Dazzling Diamonds for the icing. This time around, I stayed pretty true to the original layout, just added in some scallops.

Can't wait to visit the other participants......Oh! It's so good to "be back!!" Thanks for stopping by and making your visit a part of your day! Almost forgot!....Don't forget to stop by MaryJo's blog and have a peak. You'll see her sketch, all the fabulous things she has done with it, and see who has participated this week.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

I've been missing.....I am so sorry! December turned out to be a difficult month. As always, there were tons of things going on, but on top of that, my Dad was seriously ill. In fact, we didn't think he'd make it. All my siblings and I rushed down to Florida and spent a week there, arriving home back home, here in New Jersey, just in time for Christmas. It's so scary when the man you've looked up to your whole life is frail and helpless and barely clinging to life. But because of the power of prayers....and the miracle of medicine, he's made it through!

So, I've missed the recent Challenges....I missed wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! AND I've missed YOU! Although I know that I'll need to make frequent trips down to Florida to check in on my folks, and that until we make a few major life decisions for them, life is going to be a bit more hectic than ever.....but, it will be somewhat back to normal here on my homefront.

Sooooo.....hope you had a fabulous holiday season! Sorry, no cards today (I'm a bit rusty!!), but I wanted to share my stamping space with you. You see, as a Christmas gift, my hubby bought me some shelving and installed some racks for my punches. It's just so exciting to have an organized space!!

As you can see, from these photos, my stamping room is not large at all. In fact, I often joke that I share my tiny space with the hot water heater and furnace.....which is the truth, but that seriously cuts into available storage space in an already tiny room! It's so important to utilize every inch wisely! So, hubby bought me 2 shelving units (a 5 high, and the one next to it is 4 high, but 2 wide unit.) He added long handles to the side to accommodate all my punches.....which seriously frees up loads of space! (Second photo to the right shows a better view of this.) Love my punches, but they are difficult to store! Now it's just so fabulous to have them all out in plain site!! Oh, and see above the shelves...the black "bars?" They are actually magnetized, so I've added magnets to the base of many of my Mini Brad, Eyelet, etc. containers! More available space!

Moving around the room, to the right of the shelves is the hot water heater, then the furnace (not shown).....then the 3rd picture shows a filing cabinet with some of my sewing supplies and the counter space that I use for crafting. There are some short shelves installed above for magazines, books, reference material, and a few samples on display.

Further along the counter are my ink pad holders. These are great, and were purchased a few years ago. Unfortunately, the company that sold them is now gone, but each case stores one family of ink pads, matching markers, reinkers, sponges, and daubers. All in one place! Above them are more shelves with some fabric cube bins from Target all labeled with whatever is inside. Below the counter is a 2-drawer file cabinet that houses all my 8.5x11 CS. To the right of the shelves on the next wall is all my ribbon rolls....still to be organized!

Next, and finally, is a metal shelving unit that houses all my stamps. (And you'll also see a partial view of my stamping buddy, Sadie!) These are inside a doorless closet. The bottom 2 shelves are discontinued, or retired sets that I cannot part with!

Basically, the only new items in the room are the new shelves, the punch racks, and the magnetic bars above for my embellishments. But, I spent much of the past week organizing, purging, and cleaning. (Be sure to check out my retired stamp sale!) Boy, it feels good to have some workable space instead of clutter, clutter, clutter!! Now, I just need to remember where I put everything....AND keep it neat!!

Just in case you are wondering......

The countertop was installed a few years back. It's a stock counter from Lowes.

The new shelving units, punch racks, and magnetic bars were recent purchases from Ikea.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting! Hopefully, I'll have some samples to share with you in the next few days....please stop by again soon.

About Me

The very best part of being a demonstrator is the friendships that have formed over a little piece of rubber and some ink….choosing to become a Stampin’Up! Demonstrator over 10 years ago has changed my life! Of course, being a demonstrator has many wonderful perks….from discounts, to incentive trips. Why not join, too?!! Just e-mail me today for more information.